TC Preview: Slot Receiver

Jaime Cattano

07/11/2008

With Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson firmly occupying the starting positions, Buster Davis and Legedu Naanee set to compete for slot-receiver responsibilities. While both players consistently contributed during the latter half of last season, training camp will determine which player can make the tougher catches and run the sharper routes.

Buster Davis (6'1", 207 pounds), San Diego's first-round pick in 2007, has developed just as the coaches had hoped. He played in 14 games during his rookie season, including one start. He turned his 20 receptions into 188 yards and six points.

Not only is Davis an impactful player at wide receiver, but his punt-returning abilities will give him an extra opportunity to get on the field. Last season, he returned six punts for 52 yards, including a long of 24 yards.

Davis is a versatile receiver with the ability to play out wide or from the slot. He has the size, quickness and reliable hands to excel at either point.

Davis was pushed aside once the team acquired Chris Chambers but still found consistent playing time during the latter half of the season. Davis is equipped with impressive body control and knows how to use his frame to shield away defenders.

Davis excels at catching the ball on the run and turning upfield without throttling down. A sharp route runner, he never fails to get solid separation.

Davis would benefit from strengthening his frame to help him absorb hard hits. He gets banged up too easily and is known to take timeouts with minor injuries. Nonetheless, Norv Turner is pleased with his development.

"The good thing about having Buster is that he adds energy and is able to contribute," Turner said. "The thing I take the most pride in is the development of young players."

Davis will not go unchallenged, as Legedu Naanee's (6'2", 226 pounds) rising momentum will test Davis' placement on the field. Naanee appeared in 13 games last season and registered eight catches for 69 yards. He surfaced as the ‘it' man in third-and-short situations.

Naanee has incredible size and repeatedly makes difficult receptions because of his ability to make catches away from his frame. He has a knack for finding the open pocket in the defense and making his body available to his quarterback. He is a brawny athlete who can take the big hits and secure the ball.

Naanee is a natural athlete with a solid background on the football field. During his college years at Boise State, he played wide receiver, quarterback, tight end and fullback. While he has just average playing speed and needs to work on becoming a better route runner, he has solid hands and experience with the ball.

"We ask a lot of (Naanee); he plays a lot of different positions," Turner said. "And he is going to be a positive influence in our games.
He's capable of being a starting receiver in this league at some point and does a lot of things on the field."

Naanee looks to continue the momentum and energy he possessed at the close of last season. During Mini Camp workouts in May, he showed he was on the right path. He played slot receiver with the first unit, snagging several difficult catches. From two tough receptions and one diving grab in the end zone , Naanee showed stellar body control and athleticism.

The starting tandem of Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers is set and Kassim Osgood will hold strong to the No. 5 slot, since he must remain active on game days due to his impact on special teams. As Eric Parker is expected to depart from the team, Davis and Naanee will be the No. 3 and 4 receivers in some order. They will jockey intensely during training camp, as the race is too close to call at this juncture.